Pair of Ingram Tom Moore grads will be added to Kerr County War Memorial

The Kerr County Commissioners Court unanimously approved adding the names of a pair of Ingram Tom Moore High School graduates to the county’s War Memorial for making the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

Charles Victor Komppa and Javier Paredes will have their names added to the memorial on the courthouse grounds before the Memorial Day ceremony next month.

The two men were unintentionally excluded from the memorials, probably because they were living outside of Kerr County at the time of their deaths. Both were killed in action in Iraq during a surge of combat operations from 2006 to 2007. Kommpa, a Navy reservist, died in 2006, while Paredes was killed about a year later.

Ingram Independent School District Superintendent Robert Templeton made the case for honoring the two men during remarks to the court.

“We think that both of these names deserve to be on there,” Templeton said. “We feel that we owe it to these families to add them to our Kerr County Veterans Memorial and we would certainly appreciate your consideration.”

Komppa, a 1990 ITM grad. Charles was a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 18 member, Detachment 0618 in Billings, Montana. Komppa and four Marines died when their Humvee hit a roadside bomb in the western province of Al-Anbar in 2006. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy and served for five years. In 2003, he enlisted in the reserves while living in Montana. 

At Ingram Tom Moore, Charles played varsity football and ran cross country.

Paredes, a 2002 ITM grad who came to Ingram to escape horrific abuse in San Antonio. Javier died in 2007 after being struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq. Javier died trying to help another wounded soldier. Javier found a home at the Hill Country Youth Ranch while attending high school at Ingram Tom Moore.

Hill Country Youth Ranch Executive Director Krystle Ramsey praised the decision.

“It’s a very good example for our kids,” Ramsey said. “He’s an example for what it means to be a part of our Youth Ranch family.”

Paredes endured severe childhood abuse and neglect, spending time in foster care after being removed from his family home in 1990. Staff at the ranch described him as happy, determined, and proud of his Army service, noting he listed the ranch as his family in military records.

After he died, his platoon sergeant said: “He was my best Medic. He was fearless when working to save others.”

Paredes posthumously received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his actions on the battlefield. He received a full military funeral in San Antonio.

“(Gary and Carol Priour) received his flag at his funeral,” Ramsey said. “This was his home. We were his family.”

Paredes is honored at the Hill Country Youth Ranch’s art museum.